Positioned in between the smaller and more affordable Sony Xperia XA1 and the larger, more expensive imaging powerhouse Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra, the all-new Sony Xperia XA1 Plus comes with several multimedia features that are great for those who enjoy consuming audio and video content on the go.

For one, the device has a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display that's great for viewing photos taken using the 23 MegaPixel f/2.0 autofocus camera as well as clips recorded using the Full HD 1080p 30fps videocam.

The smartphone also features ClearAudio+ that instantly enhances the sound quality of downloaded songs for a more pleasing music-listening experience anytime, anywhere.

So yeah, when it comes to capturing and enjoying content, Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is certainly a handset you can rely on.

And it certainly doesn't hurt that the device looks this good.

I own a Sony Xperia XZ Premium and this model frankly looks a lot like it -- albeit lacking more lush and opulent materials. In lieu of a scratch-resistant glass back, the XA1 Plus has a full metal shell.

Both phones, however, have the same square footprint and rounded sides that make them a joy to have in the hand.

Apart from offering an intermediate display size between Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra, there's another feature which notably sets Sony Xperia XA1 Plus apart from its siblings: Its Fingerprint Scanner! Yup, those other models don't have this.

Integrated with the power button on the side for quick access using the thumb, the fingerprint scanner lets the user quickly unlock the interface with just a touch of a finger and adds another layer of protection and privacy.

The power button is flanked by the volume rocker and the hardware camera button, which quickly launches the camera with a single long press.

On the top panel, you will find the 3.5mm audio jack as well as one of the stereo microphones for video recording.

And at the bottom, we have the loud speaker and USB Type C port for charging and data transfer.

At the back, in the upper left corner, you'll find the 23 MegaPixel PDAF camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash. Its performance is more or less the same as that of XA1 and XA1 Ultra, which means that it delivers clear and brilliant images even in low light settings.

In front, the display is flanked by two speakers that deliver top-notch audio experience for a smartphone. For me, this is one of the best things about Sony Xperia smartphones. If you love listening to and sharing your favorite music tracks with your friends, Xperia handsets would be great for you.

Under the hood, the XA1 Plus runs its Xperia-UI-skinned Android 7.0 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 2.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Mali-T880MP2 GPU based Mediatek MT6757 Helio P20 chipset, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with 32GB of onboard storage that you can easily expand through the dedicated microSD card slot; That's right. With this model, you won't have to sacrifice Dual SIM capability to get more space for your content.

This set of internal hardware makes Sony Xperia XA1 more than capable of running specs-intensive 3D games that you can download from the Google Play Store. The handset is not the most powerful out there but for most consumers, what is has is more than enough to deliver a decent everyday mobile experience.

As for battery life, 4G-enabled smartphone's non-removable 3,430 mAh pack delivers around a whole day of uptime with regular use.

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is arriving in the Philippines within October 2017. As of writing, there's no word yet on its official price tag but I'm guessing that this model should go for around Php 17,000 to Php 18,000. As for colors, you can the phone Pink, Gold, Black, and Blue.

Update as of November 10, 2017:Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is now officially available at all authorized retail outlets in the Philippines. The midrange smartphone sells for only Php 16,990, which is very close to our guesstimate.